Positive Behavior is not a Dream...It's a Plan!

Featured Teacher

This week's featured teacher is Jennifer Garcia, who joined the Los Alisos team this year. As I observed her in action, it was obvious that PBIS is a crucial component of the Academcic Support Classroom (ASC) classroom. "Many of these students have not yet developed the concept of delayed gratification or intrinsic rewards. They need tangible, immediate rewards." These include candy, 6P's tickets, and a token economy. Students can redeem tickets for a prize from the treasure chest or take their chances in Ms. Vanlant's raffle.

Jennifer explained that she works closely with the other ASC teachers on the team, Paul Vernon and Calleen Tokashiki, to develop IEP educational and behavioral goals for the 45 students in the program and addresses these goals throughout the school day. The students rotate among the three teachers during blocks 1-3 for reading, writing, and math. Then they are self-contained in their grade-level classrooms for science and social studies. During PE, lunch, and breaks the students are with the general population. The most important component for the success of the program is the support and collaboration with her team and administration, which she has found to be outstanding here at Los Alisos, in comparison to other places where she has worked. Welcome to our staff, Jennifer, we are lucky to have you.

Are They "Bad," or Brain Damaged?

In this Ted Talks Video, Dr. Daniel Amen explains, "The most important lesson learned from 83,000 brain scans." He has concluded, "You can change people's brains, and when you do, you change their lives." This video will change your perceptions about why some of our students act out, and change how you as a teacher react to their negative behavior. Instead of Crime and Punishment, Dr. Amen suggest: Crime, Evaluation, and Treatment.

"A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens, but by how it treats its criminals." Fyodor Dostoevsky